The Global Environment I Dreamed of in High School is Now My Everyday

I had always been interested in Sophia University, especially as I watched those above me in high school go on to attend Sophia. While attending Sophia’s open campus, I was very impressed with the school’s global atmosphere and strongly felt that this was where I wanted to spend my university years.

Sophia’s prime location was also a major factor in my decision – Tokyo station, which is only 10 minutes from campus on the rapid train, is the station I use to travel back to Sendai; being able to attend evening classes or club activities and still be able to take the bullet train home was really appealing.

Since starting at Sophia, I’ve come to realize that the international atmosphere I experienced at the open campus was just the everyday norm of Sophia University. In the beginning, I was really surprised to see English and many other languages spoken on the campus’s “main street,” just to discover that this was just the culture of Sophia. While the Yotsuya campus is not large, there are students and faculty from all corners of the world, creating a sense that the whole world can be experienced on campus. This atmosphere is highly unique to Sophia and one of its many charms.

Embracing Solo Living and Exploring Every Possible Challenge

Being an only child, I was very anxious about living away from my family. While potential loneliness was a fear, I was simply nervous about whether I would be able to do the things that living alone requires. On the other hand, I knew that living alone meant that I would gain the freedom that comes from leaving home.

One of the hardest things about living alone is having no one to turn to when you get sick. Even if you are sick, you still need to go grocery shopping when out of food, and even if you are tired, you still need to do laundry to have clean clothes to wear. For the first time, I realized how dependent I had been on my family. While in the beginning it was difficult, I also feel that I’ve gradually gained resiliency and the ability to adapt to what new situations demand of me. Since taking the leap to attend a university in Tokyo, away from my home and my family, I have tried to make the most of my time by trying many things outside of my studies. Motivated by this feeling, I’ve joined extracurriculars and taken part-time jobs. I find that spending time alone in my room makes me a bit lonely, so I challenge myself to fill my schedule with activities and chances to spend time with different people, which has been very fulfilling.

Discoveries Made Amidst My Busy but Fulfilling Days

During spring break of my freshman year in college, I participated in a program to study the various functions and roles of the United Nations, which brought me all the way to New York City. This program is very popular among students as it provides an opportunity to study at the UN headquarters. As a member of the Japan Model United Nations Yotsuya Branch, I was introduced to this program. During this course, we heard directly from UN staff, who are working first-hand to solve global issues, which helped us understand the reality of international cooperation in ways that cannot be conveyed through news alone.

I joined the Japan Model United Nations Yotsuya Branch because I wanted to try a new activity in my new university environment. While I found it by chance when looking for a club to join, I became deeply interested in being part of and challenging myself through discussion with this group of students who are invested in international issues.

As a club, we act as representatives of different countries and engage in discussion, which has helped me think more deeply about international affairs. Model United Nations was first introduced at Sophia University by Professor Emeritus Sadako Ogata, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, during her tenure at Sophia. Model United Nations feels unique to Sophia University, especially with the University’s connection to Professor Ogata, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.

I’m also a member of a mixed choir, Amadeus Chor. As a choir, we hold concerts twice a year and sing the school song at the entrance ceremony and degree conferment ceremony. I have been in chorus since elementary school and wanted to continue singing in college so I’ve enjoyed being able to share in this with my music-loving friends. My fellow chorus members are kind and warm, and it is one of my most important places at University.

Through my studies and experiences at Sophia, my thoughts on what research I would like to pursue has gradually changed. Before entering the Department of Education, I was interested in international educational development and educational assistance, but when I studied educational issues in Japan, I learned that the problems facing education in Japan are more serious than I had imagined, and I am now able to think about educational issues in Japan and around the world from a micro and macro perspective. The professors at the Department of Education are at the forefront of the educational field in Japan and abroad, and speaking with them always gives me a strong desire to learn more and more.

At Sophia, both the arts and sciences are on one campus, and barriers between departments are low, creating an environment in which students can flexibly study what they are interested in. While I want to study my department’s specialized subjects, I also want to broaden my horizons by studying some of my other interests and finding new areas for me to contribute. To do this I know I will need to continue to proactively take on new challenges.

*Please note that the content of this article is current as of July 2023.